The Rick Smith Show

James Gardler tells why Verizon should bring back its skilled union workforce

James Gardler, President CWA Local 13000 joins Rick to give and update from the picket line as striking CWA members enter the fourth week of their job action.  Stories of needless injuries, customer dissatisfaction, and mounting tensions seem to be everywhere.

Robert Weiner discusses the Democratic strategies in play in West Virginia and Nebraska

Robert Weiner, President of Robert Weiner & Associates joins Rick to talk West Virginia Primary and answer the question, how does Hillary attractand get out the youth vote?

Christian Weller talks 401 vs. Pension and the downfall of retirement savings

Christian E. Weller, Senior Fellow at American Progress and a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts, Boston joins Rick to discuss the new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on retirement security, or the lack thereof for working people in the US and what needs to be done to stave off the impending crisis.  

Political gambler Paul Krishnamurty discusses the odds on Trump and Campaign 2016

Paul Krishnamurty, UK Political Odds maker joins Rick to lay out the betting line in the UK on the US Presidential election and to talk about how this election season is being viewed people in the UK.  

The Rick Smith Show - Full Show - May 9, 2016

Jody Barksdale, Harrisburg Education Association president joins Rick to talk about today’s rally of Harrisburg teachers and members of the community at the Harrisburg School District’s board meeting to raise awareness that teachers have been working without a new contract for almost 4 years. 

William Lucini, Philadelphia Region Business Agent for the National Association of Letter Carriers joins Rick to talk about the upcoming May 14th Stamp Out Hunger food drive.  It will be the 24^th year in a row NALC members and the Post Office have conducted this event to help feed those in the community who are in need.

Mercedes Martinez, president of the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico, the teachers union joins Rick to talk about continued attacks on public education in Puerto Rico as they deal with a created debt crisis.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf joins Rick to talk about the upcoming budget battle and what he expects out of the republican leadership this time around as the November elections grow nearer.

Shalon Miller, Detroit Public School teacher joins Rick to discuss the work actions taken by Detroit Public School teachers who have been told they might not get paid because there is not enough revenue to pay them and how all the chaos is effecting the community. 

Jody Barksdale talks 1400 days without new contract for Harrisburg Teachers

Jody Barksdale, Harrisburg Education Association president joins Rick to talk about today’s rally of Harrisburg teachers and members of the community at the Harrisburg School District’s board meeting to raise awareness that teachers have been working without a new contract for almost 4 years. 

William Luccini talks NALC's National Food Drive on 5/14 & Standing Up to Hunger

William Lucini, Philadelphia Region Business Agent for the National Association of Letter Carriers joins Rick to talk about the upcoming May 14th Stamp Out Hunger food drive.  It will be the 24^th year in a row NALC members and the Post Office have conducted this event to help feed those in the community who are in need.

Mercedes Martinez discusses the effects of Puerto Rico's crisis on its students and teachers

Mercedes Martinez, president of the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico, the teachers union joins Rick to talk about continued attacks on public education in Puerto Rico as they deal with a created debt crisis.

Governor Wolf talks fairness and the upcoming 2016 Pennsylvania Budget

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf joins Rick to talk about the upcoming budget battle and what he expects out of the republican leadership this time around as the November elections grow nearer.

Shalon Miller talks Detroit Public School teachers taking action

Shalon Miller, Detroit Public School teacher joins Rick to discuss the work actions taken by Detroit Public School teachers who have been told they might not get paid because there is not enough revenue to pay them and how all the chaos is effecting the community. 

The Rick Smith Show - Full Show - May 6, 2016

Dave Hoskowicz, CWA Unit 44 Local 13000 Vice President and 19 year Verizon employee joins Rick to discuss the May 5th National Day of Action, give an on the ground report of moral on the picket,and share an update of where things are with negotiations. 

Darrin Kelly, Executive Vice President of the Allegheny Central Labor Council and IAFF Local 1 member joins Rick to talk about the workers protesting in Pittsburgh as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds its spring meeting to decide on what anti-worker,anti-education, anti-environment policies they can push through Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. 

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the latest disappointing job numbers and what policy makers need to do to boost manufacturing and job creation across the nation. 

Isaiah Poole, Director of Online Communications for the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to discuss the recent stories of the nation losing its mind and even greater polarization as a tow truck driver claims God told him to leave a disabled woman stranded on the side of the road because of a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker. 

Mary Bottari, Center for Media and Democracy’s Deputy Director joins Rick to lay out the grand plan being offered up to legislatures across the nation by ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council and what citizens need to know as their poison comes to your local government. 

David Hoskowicz reviews CWA National Day of Action on the Verizon Strike

Dave Hoskowicz, CWA Unit 44 Local 13000 Vice President and 19 year Verizon employee joins Rick to discuss the May 5th National Day of Action, give an on the ground report of moral on the picket,  and share an update of where things are with negotiations. 

Darrin Kelly discusses the Pittsburgh protests to stop ALEC's PA takeover in PA

Darrin Kelly, Executive Vice President of the Allegheny Central Labor Council and IAFF Local 1 member joins Rick to talk about the workers protesting in Pittsburgh as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds its spring meeting to decide on what anti-worker,anti-education, anti-environment policies they can push through Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. 

Matias Vernengo discusses the latest job numbers and the importance of policy

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the latest disappointing job numbers and what policy makers need to do to boost manufacturing and job creation across the nation. 

Isaiah Poole decries the Nation's slide toward the opposite of the Good Samaritan

Isaiah Poole, Director of Online Communications for the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to discuss the recent stories of the nation losing its mind and even greater polarization as a tow truck driver claims God told him to leave a disabled woman stranded on the side of the road because of a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker. 

Mary Bottari on exposing the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Pittsburgh

Mary Bottari, Center for Media and Democracy’s Deputy Director joins Rick to lay out the grand plan being offered up to legislatures across the nation by ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council and what citizens need to know as their poison comes to your local government. 

The Rick Smith Show - Full Show - May 5, 2016

Will Bunch, Author of The Bern Identity and columnist at the Philly Daily News joins Rick to talk about his recent article, “Tax Soda Less, Tax Rich People More” and how the mayor of Philadelphia’s plan is being received on both sides of the political divide.

Tom Crawford, Western region Vice President of CWA Local 13000 joins Rick from the picket line to talk about the strike, today’s day of action around Verizon’s shareholder’s meeting, and what CWA and IBEW members are fighting for.

Will Fischer, Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council joins Rick to talk about the presidential candidate’s records on veteran’s issues and how they are being received by veteran’s groups.

Ronald Baker, Strategic Campaign Coordinator for the BCTGM joins Rick to get caught up on the developments at Mondelez-Nabisco as the company continues to effort to ship jobs to Mexico costing American workers good paying job opportunities. It's time to Fight for American Jobs.

Jay Matthew, Executive Producer of Bern the Movie joins Rick to talk about why he and his staff have chosen Senator Sanders as their focus and what response they have received from the senator and others.  If you want to help fund the completion of the film go to BernTheMovie.com

Jay Matthew talks the rise of Senator Sanders and his movie Bern The Movie

Jay Matthew, Executive Producer of Bern the Movie joins Rick to talk about why he and his staff have chosen Senator Sanders as their focus and what response they have received from the senator and others.  If you want to help fund the completion of the film go to BernTheMovie.com

Ronald Baker talks the Fight for American Jobs and leaving Oreos on the shelf

Ronald Baker, Strategic Campaign Coordinator for the BCTGM joins Rick to get caught up on the developments at Mondelez-Nabisco as the company continues to effort to ship jobs to Mexico costing American workers good paying job opportunities. It's time to Fight for American Jobs.

Will Fischer warns presidential candidates and voters against privatizing the VA

Will Fischer, Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council joins Rick to talk about the presidential candidate’s records on veteran’s issues and how they are being received by veteran’s groups.